NUMBER 173

DATE: 12/12/97

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During October, EUM, JMA, CSU and AES processed greater than 96% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for October were reported by EUM, JMA and AES.

NOA reported a funding shortfall that has terminated deliveries of B2 data as of April 97. No change in this situation has occurred; in fact, funds for FY98 do not appear to be sufficient to resume data deliveries.

CSU reports continuing (now routine) image losses to due scan motor conditioning activities on GOES-9. All 2100 GMT images were lost from October 4 through 15 because of solar radio frequency interference.

CSU is still supplying the AC data for GOES-8 until AES revises their format. AES has reported completion of this revision, but the new format has not be confirmed by the SCC.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for October 97 from GOES-8, GOES-9, METEOSAT-6, GMS-5 and NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for August 97 for METEOSAT-6, GMS-5, GOES-8 and GOES-9 were shipped to the GPC.

All BC reports now include normalization for the visible, standard infrared and "split-window" infrared channels (except METEOSAT which does not have a split-window channel), and the "water vapor" channels.

Global Processing Center (GPC):

The GPC continued to receive B2 data, BC data and correlative data in a routine manner.

Production of NOAA-14 (preliminary) B3 is current. The normalization of NOAA-14 to NOAA-9 has been completed, so production of final B3 can begin next month.

Production of NOAA-12 (preliminary) B3 data is current. Final B3 data have been delivered through December 95.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

GOES-8 B2 data deliveries are current. Deliveries since July 96 have included the calibration block, but the status of this information for the older datasets is not clear. The formatting software has not been written yet.

GOES-9 B2 data for January 96 and for June through October 97 have been delivered. The formatting software has not been written yet.

Production of METEOSAT-3 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is complete; however, the data from January 96 onwards has to be revised to include the normalization coefficients for the additional spectral channels -- this re-processing has been completed through October 96. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

Production of METEOSAT-6 (preliminary) B3 was halted to revise B3 software and data formats to include the normalization coefficients for the additional spectral channels. The code changes are complete.

Production of GMS-4 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

GMS-5 B2 data deliveries are current. Production of GMS-5 (preliminary) B3 has been completed through March 97.

All B3 processing software and the B3 data formats have been revised to include, as of January 96, the normalization coefficients for all the additional spectral channels.

TOVS correlative data processing has been completed through January 97. Another unannounced format change in February 97 is being investigated.

Production of the ice/snow correlative dataset is complete through 94. Snow and sea ice data through 96 have been received.

DX/D1/D2 for September and October 93 have been processed; the February 93 dataset has been re-processed to include METEOSAT-3 data. Testing of the proto-type of the D-data processing system on workstation is nearing completion.

The ISCCP World Wide Web Home Page can be accessed at URL

ISCCP Central Archive (ICA):

The ICA continued to receive B1 data from NOA, AES, EUM, CSU and JMA and B3 and C data from the GPC in a routine manner.

The health of GOES-8, GOES-9, GMS-5, METEOSAT-6, NOAA-12 and NOAA-14 remained good. The Chinese FY-2 satellite continues through its checkout towards full operations. METEOSAT-7 was successfully launched on 2 September 97 and will replace METEOSAT-6 in November 97. METEOSAT-5 will be moved to eastward to cover the Indian ocean once METEOSAT-7 is in operation. Launch of NOAA-K has been further delayed until spring 98.

Stage B3: July 83 - June 94 (11.0 years)

Stage CD: July 83 - December 94 (11.5 years)

Stage C1: July 83 - June 91 ( 8.0 years)

Stage C2: July 83 - June 91 ( 8.0 years)

Stage D1: January 86 - January 87, April 89 - October 93 ( 5.7 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - January 87, April 89 - October 93 ( 5.7 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (CSU = 16 months, NOA = 6 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 34 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 42 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 68 months have been archived.